Who Arted: Weekly Art History for All Ages
Who Arted is an art history and art education podcast that explores art in all its forms, from traditional fine art to video game design, dance, and culinary arts. Each episode tells the story of a different artist and artwork, making art history fun and accessible to everyone. The podcast is written and produced by an art teacher and releases new episodes every Monday and Friday.
Episodes
Claes Oldenburg (encore)
Claes Oldenburg (1929-2022), the Swedish-born American sculptor, wasn't your typical artist. He wasn't interested in grand figures or historical scenes. Instead, he found inspiration in the most unexpected places: the everyday objects that cluttered our lives. His art, a blend of Pop Art and gigantic whimsy, continues to transform cityscapes around the world.
I am taking some time off to rest o
Jack Kirby (encore)
Jack Kirby created some of the biggest names in the golden age of comics including: Fantastic Four, the X-Men, Iron Man, Black Panther, The Incredible Hulk. He basically populated the Marvel Universe. In 1970 though he felt like he wasn't getting the credit he deserved there and left Marvel for DC. There he created a series, Fourth World which I imagine he thought would demonstrate his brilliance
TLDR Sol LeWitt
Sol LeWitt was a pioneering American artist who played a crucial role in defining the Minimalist and Conceptual art movements. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1928 to Russian immigrant parents, LeWitt pursued his early education in fine arts at Syracuse University before serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Following his military service, he moved to New York City in 1953, where he im
TLDR Hatshepsut's Mortuary Temple
Queen Hatshepsut reigned as the fifth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty during Egypt’s New Kingdom period. Initially occupying the traditional role of queen consort to her half-brother Thutmose II, she assumed the regency for her infant stepson, Thutmose III, following her husband's death around 1479 BCE. By the seventh year of her regency, she broke with Egyptian tradition by officially crowning
James McNeill Whistler | Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1 (Encore)
James Abbott McNeill Whistler was a prominent figure in the Aesthetic Movement focusing on "Art for art's sake." One of Whistler's most renowned works is "Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1," widely known as "Whistler's Mother," painted in 1871. This oil on canvas depicts his mother, Anna McNeill Whistler, seated in profile. Despite Whistler's insistence that the painting be appreciated for its f
TLDR Henri Rousseau | The Equatorial Jungle
French Post-Impressionist painter Henri Rousseau is widely celebrated as one of the most significant self-taught artists in history. Born in Laval, France in 1844, Rousseau worked for years as a government toll collector before retiring early to dedicate himself entirely to his art. Because he bypassed traditional academic training, he eschewed standard techniques like linear perspective. Instead,
TLDR Paul Klee | Twittering Machine
Paul Klee, born on December 18, 1879, in Switzerland, developed into one of modern art's most influential figures, crossing paths with major movements such as Expressionism, Cubism, and Surrealism. Raised in a deeply musical family, he trained extensively as a violinist and played with the Bern Music Association by age eleven before pivoting to the visual arts and moving to Munich in 1900 to study
TLDR Giuseppe Arcimboldo | The Librarian
The Italian Mannerist painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo, born in Milan around 1526 or 1527, began his career creating traditional religious artwork, stained glass windows, and tapestries for local cathedrals alongside his father, Biagio. In 1562, Arcimboldo relocated to Vienna to serve as a court portraitist for Habsburg Emperor Ferdinand I, a prestigious role he maintained under successors Maximilian I
TLDR Peter Max
Peter Max, born Peter Max Finkelstein in Berlin in 1937, is a legendary German-American pop artist whose multicultural childhood profoundly shaped his vibrant creative style. After fleeing Nazi Germany with his family in 1938, Max spent a decade in Shanghai, China, before traveling through Tibet, Israel, and Paris, exposing him to a diverse array of global artistic traditions. Upon immigrating to
Author Interview Thomas Laqueur | The Dog's Gaze
My guest this week is author and historian Thomas Laqueur to discuss his new book, The Dog's Gaze: A Visual History. Laqueur explores the deep biological, evolutionary, and cultural connection between humans and dogs as told through centuries of masterpiece paintings. From the ancient petroglyphs of the Arabian desert to Velázquez's intricate court scenes, the gaze of a dog functions as an invitin
The Parthenon
The Parthenon, a crowning achievement of Classical Greek architecture, was constructed on the Athenian Acropolis between 447 BCE and 432 BCE during the golden age of Athens. Commissioned under the leadership of the prominent statesman Pericles, the monumental project brought together the master sculptor Phidias and the brilliant architects Iktinos and Kallikrates. Embodying the ideals of structura
The Marine Corps War Memorial
Today, I am sharing an episode of my other podcast Fun Facts Daily focusing on the Marine Corps War Memorial and the iconic image of soldiers raising the flag.
The Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, honors all United States Marine Corps personnel who lost their lives in service to their country since 1775. Sculpted by Felix de Weldon, the massive bronze statue recreates the iconi
TLDR Jasper Johns | Flag
Jasper Johns, born May 15, 1930, in Augusta, Georgia, significantly influenced mid-century American painting by reintroducing recognizable, everyday imagery into fine art. After pursuing an art degree at the University of South Carolina and studying at the Parsons School of Design, Johns served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Upon returning to New York City in 1953, he established a studio
Walter De Maria | The Lightning Field (encore)
Walter De Maria (1935-2013) was a pivotal figure in Minimalism, Conceptual Art, and Land Art, known for large-scale environmental installations. His significant works include The New York Earth Room and The Lightning Field. The Lightning Field, commissioned by the Dia Art Foundation and completed in 1977 in Catron County, New Mexico, comprises 400 stainless steel poles arranged in a precise grid,
TLDR El Greco | The Burial of the Count Orgaz (encore)
Domenikos Theotokopoulos, better known as El Greco, was a singular figure in art history who bridged the gap between Byzantine tradition and Western modernism. Born in Crete in 1541, he trained as an icon painter before moving to Venice and Rome, where he absorbed the vibrant colors of the High Renaissance. However, his bold personality and vocal criticism of local heroes like Michelangelo made it
TLDR Nan Madol
Nan Madol is an ancient archaeological site situated off the eastern shore of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia. Constructed between 1200 and 1600 CE, the city served as the administrative and ceremonial seat of the Saudeleur Dynasty, which unified the island’s population of approximately 25,000 people. Often referred to as the "Venice of the Pacific," the site consists of nearly 100 a
Charles and Ray Eames | Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman (encore)
Charles and Ray Eames were an iconic husband-and-wife design team who became leaders of the Mid-Century Modern movement. Their partnership began at the Cranbrook Academy of Art, merging Charles's architectural and structural background with Ray's keen artistic eye for color and form. A critical development in their career was perfecting a method for molding plywood into complex shapes, a technique
TLDR Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso remains one of the most influential figures of 20th-century art, with a career spanning over 80 years and an estimated output of 50,000 works. Born in Málaga, Spain, in 1881, Picasso was a child prodigy whose technical mastery reportedly surpassed that of his father, an academic painter, by the age of 13. After moving to Paris in 1904, he navigated through several distinct stylistic
TLDR Damien Hirst | The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living
Damian Hirst is a pivotal figure in contemporary art, best known as the leading force behind the Young British Artists (YBA) movement that transformed the London art scene in the 1990s. Born in Bristol and raised in Leeds, Hirst’s trajectory toward international fame began during his studies at Goldsmiths College, where he organized the landmark 1988 independent exhibition, Freeze. By securing a w
TLDR The Alhambra
The Alhambra is a majestic palace and fortress complex situated on Sabika Hill in Granada, Spain, representing the pinnacle of Moorish architecture in Western Europe. Originally built on the ruins of a small Roman fortification, the current structure's modern history began in 1238 under Mohammed ibn al-Ahmar, the founder of the Nasrid dynasty. Over the 13th and 14th centuries, subsequent rulers su
DayGlo Colors (encore)
This is an encore presentation of my episode about how DayGlo colors work and how they were developed by a pair of brothers in the 1930s. This spring has been very busy for me with responsibilities for work and family. I am taking. a bit of a break for a few weeks to rest and recharge, but I am planning some new episode that will be released in May.
Listen Ad-Free on Patreon.
For just $3 pe
The Salon des Refusés (encore)
In mid-19th century Paris, the prestigious Paris Salon, sanctioned by the Académie des Beaux-Arts, reigned as the art world's epicenter, acting as the primary gateway to artistic success. By 1863, mounting rejections ignited public outcry, compelling Emperor Napoleon III to establish the groundbreaking Salon des Refusés. This exhibition, held at the Palais de l'Industrie, showcased rejected artist
The Curious Case of Nat Tate (encore)
The art world is full of interesting characters. In so many ways, the artist‘s biography can be as important as their work. Nat Tate was an interesting character introduced to critics and tastemakers in 1998 when David Bowie hosted a dinner party to help launch a new book Nat Tate: Am American Artist 1928-1960. While the book has the sleepy title of a non-fiction book, it was actually a novel fram
Artist Interview | Ian Capstick
Ian Capstick’s creative evolution spans from theatrical performance and prop making to a high-stakes career as a political pundit and creative director. After years of advocating for marginalized voices in Canada’s capital through his agency, MediaStyle, Capstick transitioned into fiber arts, finding a new medium in "quilty banners". His work intentionally blurs the historical divide between fine
Giotto | Ognissanti Madonna
Giotto di Bondone, born around 1267 near Florence, is widely recognized as a pivotal figure who transformed the trajectory of Western art by breaking away from the flat, spiritual symbolism of the Byzantine style. Legend, as recorded by the 16th-century biographer Giorgio Vasari, holds that the master painter Cimabue discovered Giotto as a young shepherd boy sketching lifelike sheep on a rock. Dur
Announcement: The Winner of Arts Madness 2026
Today, we’re going to look back at the winner of this year’s Arts Madness Tournament. I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has been listening and participating in the Tournament. This year was the biggest one yet. We started with 64 diverse artists and artworks. After six weeks of head to head matches and 13,757 votes Frank Lloyd Wright has come out on top.
Wright was been a formidable
Codex Borgia
The Codex Borgia is a pre-Columbian Mesoamerican manuscript, a 36-foot folded document made of animal hide, dating from the 13th to early 16th centuries. Created by Indigenous peoples, likely in central Mexico, it serves as a religious and divinatory almanac used by priests. Filled with intricate depictions of deities like Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl, and Tlaloc, it illustrates the 260-day tonalpoh
Author Interview Kory Stamper | True Color
This week, I got to talk to Kory Stamper, author of True Color: The Strange and Spectacular Quest to Define Color, exploring how color is a complex intersection of physics, physiology, and psychology. Human color perception is defined not just by wavelengths of light, but by the brain’s interpretive processes using specialized cells in the retina known as rods and cones. While rods detect light an
Artemisia Gentileschi | Judith Slaying Holofernes
Artemisia Gentileschi (1593–1653) was a preeminent Italian Baroque painter and one of the most accomplished artists of the 17th century. Born in Rome as the daughter of the esteemed painter Orazio Gentileschi, she developed her craft in an era where women were largely excluded from formal art academies and professional guilds. Despite enduring a traumatic assault by a tutor and a grueling, high-pr
Gavin Whitehead | Raven
This week, I have an interview with Gavin Whitehead, the creator and host of The Art of Crime and a new limited series, Raven.
Find Gavin online:
Raven
The Art of Crime
www.theartofcrimepodcast.com
The African American Wax Museum of Harlem was established in 1989 by the eccentric artist and fashion designer Raven Chanticleer. Located in the basement of a brownstone on 164th Street, the mus
Chuck Close
Chuck Close said when a problem seems overwhelming, you should break it down into smaller pieces. To tackle the photorealistic faces, Chuck Close would use a grid. He broke the image down into sections allowing him to focus on the lines, shapes, and proportions one little bit at a time. In his early works, he would erase the grid as he painted, but as he matured, he chose to lean into the grid. He
Alfred Sisley | Flood at Port-Marly
Alfred Sisley (1839–1899) was a pivotal figure in the Impressionist movement, uniquely distinguished by his unwavering devotion to landscape painting. Born in Paris to affluent British parents, Sisley initially moved to London to pursue a career in commerce but found himself captivated by the landscape works of John Constable and J.M.W. Turner at the National Gallery. Upon returning to France in 1
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe | Seagram Building
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, a pivotal figure in 20th-century architecture, began his career in Germany, where he was deeply influenced by his early exposure to masonry and materials. Born in 1886, Mies refined his minimalist aesthetic, famously summarized by the motto "less is more," through his work in Berlin with modern design pioneers like Peter Behrens. His tenure as the director of the Bauhaus
Artist Interview | Cristallina Fischetti
Fischetti’s work often explores "abstract medicine"—the idea that art can serve as a vehicle for healing and spiritual inquiry. Her background in professional dance and yoga heavily informs her physical approach to painting, which she describes as a ritualistic performance. Fischetti often incorporates personal history and organic elements into her work, such as the use of wine to represent her It
Fun Facts About Paint and Glitter
Today I am sharing a bit from my other podcast, Fun Facts Daily. It has been wonderful making Who ARTed for the last few years and the spring is always one of my favorite times as we get into the Arts Madness Tournament, but for the last year, I have been working on Fun Facts Daily to help shine a light on some of the awesome things in the world beyond art. I hope you enjoy these episodes sharing
Architect Interview | Alexander Josephson
Alexander Josephson is a Toronto-based architect, lecturer at the University of Toronto’s Daniels Faculty of Architecture, and the visionary co-founder of PARTISANS. Since its inception in 2012, PARTISANS has established itself as an award-winning architecture studio dedicated to subverting expectations through the integration of design, technology, and cultural storytelling. Beyond traditional ar
Michelangelo | The Sistine Chapel Ceiling
Michelangelo was considered to be one of the greatest examples of a Renaissance man. He is also one of the worst examples of personal hygiene. Learn a little bit about the artist who painted the ceiling on the Sistine Chapel.
Related episodes:
Michelangelo | The Sistine Chapel Ceiling
Art Smart: The Renaissance
This is an encore presentation. Every January/February, I release daily
Maria and Julian Martinez | Black on Black Pottery
Maria Martinez belonged to the Tewa-speaking Pueblo people, known for their rich artistic heritage. Pottery-making was deeply rooted in Puebloan culture, serving as a means of artistic expression and a reflection of their close connection with the natural world. Maria grew up watching her family members create pottery, learning the traditional techniques. Of course, we seldom talk about those who
The Treasures of King Tutankhamun's Tomb
On November 26, 1922, Howard Carter prepared to enter the tomb of a little-known pharaoh. Nobody had set foot inside the space for over 3,000 years, but as Carter held up his candle, his partner, Lord Carnarvon who had financed the expedition called out asking if he saw anything. Carter responded, “Yes, wonderful things.” Though his reign may have been short, the treasures found in Tutankhamun’s t
Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun
In 1778, Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun met Marie Antoinette at the Royal palace in Versailles. The queen had heard of Le Brun’s talent and asked to paint her portrait. Marie Antoinette loved the way Le Brun painted her and from that point on, she was pretty much her official royal portrait painter. Le Brun painted 30 portraits of the queen. Almost as quickly as her star rose, her fortunes changed. In 17
Artist Interview | Jason deCaires Taylor
Jason deCaires Taylor, is a UK-based contemporary artist who has seamlessly merged art and environmental activism. Renowned for his captivating underwater sculptures, Taylor's creations serve as a powerful reminder of the urgent need to address environmental concerns. Crafted with meticulous detail, his sculptures not only captivate the eye but also provide a haven for marine life, fostering the g
Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is the largest religious structure in the world, located in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, it is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and was likely intended as the king's tomb. The temple's construction, which involved 300,000 workers and took over 30 years, showcases the Khmer Empire's impressive architectural and engineering skills. Its intricate
Claude Monet | Stacks of Wheat (End of Summer)
My guest this week is Jen Leban from The Art of Education. For any fellow art teachers listening, check out The Art of Ed Community and I had the priviledge of writing for the AOE magazine last year, so check out my articles. We're kicking off the annual Arts Madness Tournament and I thought there would be no better way to start things off than inviting Jen to join me for a friendly discussion abo
Artist Interview | Herb Williams
Herb Williams is an incredibly talented sculptor bringing crayons to a whole new dimension. I sat down to talk to Williams about his background, his artistic influences, and exactly how and why he uses crayons to sculpt. He shared his memories of making art as a child as well as his experience working in a foundry making lost wax castings before he decided to pursue a literal dream of making sculp
Diego Velazquez | Las Meninas
Diego Velazques was one of the most significant painters of Spain's Golden Age in the 17th century. He was a master of both portraiture and genre painting, Las Meninas is a sort of mix of both. We see people who seem rather formally dressed by today’s standards, but the subject is also, it was a peak behind the curtain of royal life. Withing the work, the first focal point would be the little girl
Leonardo da Vinci | The Last Supper
One Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous works is not housed in a museum. It is in the Convent of Santa Maria in Milan Italy. It seems totally fitting for a depiction of the last supper was painted on the wall in the convent’s dining hall. Visitors today are often surprised by how enormous the work it. The People are life sized on this massive 15 by 29 foot painting. Another surprising fact is that whi
The Aztec Calendar Stone
The Aztec Sun Stone, also known as the Calendar Stone, is a large, round stone carving that represents Aztec mythology and cosmology. It depicts the five consecutive worlds of the sun, with the date 13 Reed marking the start of the fifth and final sun. It was created in the 15th century and is about 3 and a half meters wide, almost a meter thick, and weighs 25 tons. Learn more about the history an
Caravaggio | The Calling of Saint Matthew
Michelangelo Merisi, born in 1571 amidst the darkness of the plague, would come to be known not by his christened name but by the name of his birthplace – Caravaggio. Orphaned young, the specter of loss would forever paint itself onto the canvas of his life. Yet, from this darkness, a genius of light and shadow would emerge, revolutionizing the art world with his raw and dramatic style.
While con
Rachel Whiteread | Embankment
Rachel Whiteread is a prominent British sculptor and a leading figure among the Young British Artists (YBAs) who rose to prominence in the late 1980s. Unlike the provocative work of her peers, Whiteread’s art is characterized by a quiet, minimalist focus on "negative space"—the empty air inside or around everyday objects. By casting these voids in industrial materials like plaster, resin, and conc
Jean-Antoine Houdon | George Washington
Jean-Antoine Houdon was one of the greatest neoclassical sculptors in the late 18th century. Shortly after the American Revolution, the governor of Virginia asked Thomas Jefferson to find a sculptor to make a marble statue of George Washington for the state capital building. Jefferson was a self-taught architect and a big believer in the neoclassical movement's use of symbolism in art to convey a
William Blake | The Ancient of Days
My guest this week is Mark Vernon, author of Awake! William Blake and the Power of Imagination. We discussed William Blake, the famous poet and visual artist known for his spiritually charged work. The piece we discussed was The Ancient of Days.
This is an encore presentation. Every January/February, I release daily episodes to refresh everyone's memory on the 64 artists and artworks that
Johannes Vermeer | Woman Holding a Balance
Johannes Vermeer created stunning works and he is widely celebrated as one of the greatest painters of the Dutch Golden Age. This painting, Woman Holding a Balance is a work intended to encourage temperance and moderation being mindful that divine judgment is looming in the end.
Related episodes:
The Unbelievable Story of Han van Meegeren
Jan van Eyck | The Arnolfini Portrait
This is a
The Alexander Mosaic in the House of Faun, Pompeii
The Alexander Mosaic, also known as the Battle of Issus Mosaic, is a masterpiece of ancient Roman artistry that continues to captivate viewers with its detailed depiction of a pivotal moment in history. Unearthed in the House of the Faun in Pompeii, this intricate mosaic offers a glimpse into the military prowess, political ambition, and cultural exchange of the ancient world.
The mosaic captures
Felix Gonzalez-Torres | Untitled (Portrait of Ross in L.A.)
Felix Gonzalez-Torres was a conceptual artist who became well known in the 1980s and 90s for his works that broke down the barrier between artist and audience. Many of his works invited the audience to become a part of the creative process making the work more dynamic and engaging.
This is an encore presentation. Every January/February, I release daily episodes to refresh everyone's memory on t
Jean-Michel Basquiat | Horn Players
Jean-Michel Basquiat has created some of the most highly valued American paintings ever to go on auction. Basquiat sought to remake art history in his image, and I would say he was successful. His triptych, Horn Players, is one of the artworks required for the AP Art History curriculum studied by American high school students.
In the middle of February 1981, a group exhibition opened at P.S.1 in
Andy Warhol | Marilyn Diptych
Andy Warhol's Marilyn Diptych is a commentary on the nature of fame, celebrity, and mass media. Warhol appropriated a well-known image of Monroe, using repetition and contrasting colors to create a work that is both iconic and unsettling. The diptych format, traditionally used for religious works, elevates Monroe to a figure of almost religious significance, while also highlighting the manufacture
Dale Chihuly | Seaforms
Born in 1941 in Tacoma, Washington, Dale Chihuly is a pioneering figure who transformed glass from a functional, industrial material into a celebrated medium for fine art. Influenced by the rugged landscapes of the Pacific Northwest and early experiences in interior design, Chihuly’s artistic journey began with an experimental weaving project in 1963 where he first fused glass shards into a tapest
The Longmen Grottoes
China's Longmen Caves or Longmen Grottoes are a UNESCO world heritage site. Starting in the 5th century CE, artists chiseled away at the limestone carving out around 2300 caves and 110,000 statues. Because they were constructed over such a long period, the sculptures in the Longmen Caves not only reflect the religious tradition, but they track changes in artistic style over the centuries.
Related
Keith Haring | Three Eyed Smiley Face
Keith Haring, renowned for his iconic pop art and graffiti, rose to fame in the 1980s New York art scene. His signature style, characterized by bold lines, vibrant colors, and symbols like the radiant baby and barking dog, often conveyed social messages. Haring's art wasn't confined to galleries; it flourished in public spaces, notably subway stations, making it accessible to everyone. Despite his
Jan van Eyck | The Arnolfini Portrait
Jan van Eyck was a remarkable painter. He worked in oils during the Renaissance, and created stunning photorealistic portraits centuries before photography was developmed. In the Arnolfini portrait, he captures not only the subjects standing before him, but also a reflection of the room in a convex mirror showing the full scene and accurately rendering the distortions caused by the curved glass.
Victory Vasarely
Victor Vasarely was a Hungarian-French artist known for his innovative style and contributions to the Op Art movement. One of Vasarely's most famous works is "Zebra," created in 1937. This painting showcases his ability to create optical illusions through the use of black and white stripes. When viewed from a distance, the stripes appear to vibrate and create a sense of movement. This technique, k
Bridget Riley | Movement in Squares
Bridget Riley, born in London in 1931, is a prominent figure in the Op Art movement. Early life experiences, including wartime evacuation to Cornwall and exposure to nature's patterns, influenced her artistic sensibilities. Her style evolved with influences from Seurat, Pollock, and Balla. Riley's breakthrough came in the 1960s with black and white geometric paintings like "Fall" and "Current," wh
Frank Gehry | Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain
Modernists said, “form follows function” focusing on how people will use a space, but Gehry focuses on how people will react to the space. His goal is to inspire, to make them feel. He talks about the challenge of creating feeling with inert materials. He says it is the movement that brings out a feeling.
With his design in Bilbao, Spain, rather than simply designing a building to house a collect
The Deesis Mosaic in the Hagia Sophia
The Deesis mosaic, located in the South Gallery of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey, is a monumental work of Byzantine art dating back to approximately 1261 CE. Created during the Palaeologan Renaissance, a period of cultural and artistic rebirth following the Byzantine recapture of Constantinople, the mosaic represents a departure from the rigid, stylized forms typical of earlier Byzantine ar
Frank Lloyd Wright | Falling Water
Frank Lloyd Wright was one of America's most famous and influential architects. He famously said, "No house should ever be on a hill or on anything. It should be of the hill. Belonging to it. Hill and house should live together each the happier for the other." It was this emphasis on unity between the construction and the surrounding landscape that made Falling Water such a breathtaking design.
R
Gustav Klimt | The Kiss
Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss" is an iconic Art Nouveau painting, renowned for its use of gold leaf and intricate patterns. The painting depicts a couple embracing in a passionate kiss, their bodies adorned with abstract designs that symbolize interconnectedness and the natural world. While the identities of the figures are unclear, the painting has been interpreted as representing mythological figures
Salvador Dali | The Persistence of Memory
Salvador Dali's most famous painting is The Persistence of Memory from 1931. The painting is surprisingly small just 9 ½ by 13 inches or slightly larger than the average sheet of paper. It is one of the most widely recognized and referenced images of the surrealist movement. For those who don’t know it by name, you will likely recognize the description of clocks melting in the desert. The melting
Rene Magritte | The Son of Man
Rene Magritte's painting, Son of Man, is among the most famous images of the Surrealist Movement. It is one of the few artworks that transcends the museum and has become a part of pop culture. Actually, technically it isn’t even in the museums. Son of Man is privately owned and rarely seen on public display, but it has been referenced in books, movies like Stranger than Fiction and The Thomas Crow
Lee Krasner | Little Images
Lee Krasner, born Lena Krassner in 1908, was a pivotal Abstract Expressionist artist often overshadowed by her marriage to Jackson Pollock. Despite this, she forged a unique artistic path, studying at the Women's Art School of Cooper Union and the National Academy of Design before embracing modernism after the opening of MoMA in 1929. Influenced by Hans Hofmann's Cubist theories, Krasner experimen
Jackson Pollock | Number 11 (Blue Poles)
In August of 1973, the Australian government bought a Jackson Pollock painting for $2 million. It was the highest price paid for work of an American artist and it was a huge scandal in Australia. Most people thought it was a waste and inconceivable that a Pollock would be worth as much as a Rembrandt. Pollock's work seems so simple and direct that it is easy to forget how revolutionary it was.
Re
Jacques-Louis David | The Oath of the Horatii
In this episode, I was thrilled to be joind once again by Tim Bogatz, host of Art Ed Radio from The Art of Education University. Writing for The Art of Ed was one of my career and if you want to find my articles, here is a link: https://theartofeducation.edu/author/kylewood/ and fellow art teachers, join Tim, me and thousands of other art teachers on the AOE Community
Jacques-Louis David was a
Janet Sobel
When you think of bold and revolutionary modern artists from the 20th century, you probably don't think of a grandmother laying across her living room floor painting, but maybe you should. Janet Sobel was a Ukrainian American painter who was dripping paint across the canvas long before Jackson Pollock "invented" the technique.
Other artists mentioned in this episode:
Jackson Pollock
Alexa
Edward Hopper | Nighthawks
The brilliance of Edward Hopper is that he was able to be simultaneously specific and concrete yet vague and leave a lot up to the viewer to interpret. In a painting like Nighthawks we see people gathered in a diner, but as viewers we are stuck on the outside looking in. We feel isolated and apart from the scene and as we look closer, we discover that the people inside the diner are isolated thems
Thomas Hart Benton
American artist Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975) was a leading figure of the Regionalist movement, known for his dynamic depictions of American life, labor, and landscapes. Born into a politically prominent Missouri family, Benton initially pursued art against his father's wishes, studying at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and later in Paris, where he engaged with avant-garde movements like Cubism and
Emily Kame Kngwarreye | Earth's Creation
Emily Kame Kngwarreye was born around 1910, a time when the Aboriginal people were not considered full citizens in their own country. Earth’s Creation is an absolutely massive painting about 9 feet tall and 20 feet wide. She painted it in 1994 when she was around 84 years old. Most biographies will say that she only painted for the last 8 years of her life, but really, she was only painting for We
Wayne Thiebaud | Pie a la Mode
Wayne Thiebaud is known for his paintings of everyday objects. Born in 1920, Thiebaud's early experiences as a sign painter and an apprentice animator at Walt Disney Studios shaped his understanding of visual communication and iconic forms. Though often associated with the Pop Art movement of the 1960s, Thiebaud’s approach was distinct. While artists like Andy Warhol embraced mechanical reproduc
The Ardabil Carpet
The Ardabil Carpet, a masterpiece of 16th-century Persian weaving, represents a pinnacle of Safavid art. Though associated with Ardabil, scholars suggest it may have been woven in Kashan, a prominent center for carpet production during that era. Commissioned during the reign of Shah Tahmasp I (1501-1736 CE) for the Shrine of Shaykh Safi al-Din Ardabili, this monumental wool pile carpet on a silk f
Wifredo Lam | The Jungle
Wifredo Lam was a visionary artist whose work seamlessly blended the diverse influences of his multicultural heritage with the avant-garde movements of the early 20th century. Born in 1902 in Sagua la Grande, Cuba, Lam was the son of a Chinese immigrant father and a mother of mixed African and Spanish descent. This rich cultural tapestry, combined with his early exposure to Santería through his gr
Constantin Brâncuși | The Kiss & Bird in Space
Constantin Brâncuși was a Romanian sculptor who made a significant impact on modern art through his abstract sculptures. His passion and dedication to art is legendary. In the autumn of 1903, he began a months-long walk from Bucharest to Paris, where he sought to immerse himself in the avant-garde art scene. Brâncuși's work, characterized by simplified forms and a focus on the essence of his subje
Amedeo Modigliani
Amedeo Modigliani, a rebellious Italian painter, left a lasting mark on the art world with his distinctive style and captivating portraits. Born in Livorno in 1884, his early life was marked by illness and a dramatic incident that saved his family from financial ruin. Modigliani's art, influenced by diverse sources like Cezanne, Brancusi, and African sculpture, is characterized by elongated figure
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